“The idea is that when rock comes out of its natural environment and goes into its new environment, it still looks like it’s always been there,” explains Jackie Johnson, Anderson Landscaping general manager.
Incredible care is taken in the selection, extraction and transport of rocks, in this case from nearby Entiat, Wash. When seeking out rock for his projects, “I look for character, I look for age,” explains Joe Anderson. Then, in order to retain the natural character and textures right down to the moss and lichen that might be growing on their surfaces, the rocks are handled with pads and straps to avoid any marring. It can take one to two hours to remove a single mammoth stone.
The time and care is worth it, according to the homeowners. Huge boulders now serve as focal points around the property, artful retaining walls, staircases, natural outcroppings on the hillsides and rock-bordered planting areas look like as if they were in place before the house was ever built. “The rock work he did is phenomenal,” says homeowner Tom Dorr.